Another Author saith, Nero succeeded Caligula in the Government, and in no less fierceness 1and cruelty, because he was a man in whom (if possible it might be) all the other cruelties were enclosed, and all else that could (by men) be imagined, for without any regard of sanctified things, or persons (of like quality) private or public, he caused the City of Rome, to be set on fire, with express prohibition, not to quench it, or any man to make safety of his own goods: So the fire continued seven days and seven nights, burning the City; and he being on a high Tower, some small distance off, clapped his hands, and joyed, to behold this dismal spectacle, so far ⟨p. 56⟩exceeding all humanity. The wisest Prince that ever swayed a Sceptre, hath told us, That one sinner destroyeth much good. 2Who can sum up the mischief, that a few ill-minded men may do in a little time? The same Devil, the same lusts, the same wrath, the same rage, the same revenge, the same ends, the same motives, that have put others upon burning work informer times, may probably have put some, upon the same work in our time. Burning work is so odious and abominable, so destructive, hateful and hurtful a thing in the eyes of all true English men, who have any sense of honour or conscience, that I shall never wonder, to see such who have either had a head, or a hand, or a heart in it, of Arts and Crafts, to bury for ever the remembrance of it. Was not London the glory of England? Was not London Englands Treasury, and the Protestants Sanctuary? Was not London as terrible to her enemies abroad, as she was joyous to her friends at home? Has not London been as dreadful to her foreign foes, as the hand-writing upon the Wall, was to Belshazzar? Was not London the great Mountain, that her 3enemies feared would be most prejudicial to their pernicious designs? Was not London, that great Rock, against which, 4many have dashed themselves in pieces? Was not London, as Briars and Thorns, as Goads and Gulfs, and two-edged 5Swords, to all her enemies more remote, and nearer home? Had the French invaded us, when London was in flames (as many feared they would) or had such risen up at that time, in the bowels of the Nation, whose very Principles lead them by fire and sword, to make way for their Religion; what doleful days had we seen, and to what a low ebb might the Protestant Interest have then be brought?
Another Author saith, Nero succeeded Caligula in the Government, and in no less fierceness 1and cruelty, because he was a man in whom (if possible it might be) all the other cru•lties were •nclosed, and all else that could (by men) be imagined, for without any regard of sanctified things, or persons (of like quality) private or publick, he caused the City of Rome, to be set on fire, with express prohibition, not to quench it, or any man to make safety of his own goods: So the fire continued seven dayes and seven nights, burning the City; and he being on a high Tower, some small distance off, clapped his hands, and joyed, to behold this dismal spectacle, so far ⟨p. 56⟩exceeding all humanity. The wisest Prince that ever swayed a Scepter, hath told us, That one sinner destroyeth much good. 2Who can summ up the mischief, that a few ill-minded men may do in a little time? The same Devil, the same lusts, the same wrath, the same rage, the same revenge, the same ends, the same motives, that have put others upon burning work informer times, may probably have put some, upon the same work in our time. Burning work is so odious and abominable, so destructive, hateful and hurtful a thing in the eyes of all true English men, who have any sense of honour or conscience, that I shall never wonder, to see such who have either had a head, or a hand, or a heart in it, of Arts and Crafts, to bury for ever the remembrance of it. Was not London the glory of England? Was not London Englands Treasury, and the Protestants Sanctuary? Was not London as terrible to her enemies abroad, as she was joyous to her friends at home? Has not London been as dreadful to her forraign foes, as the hand-writing upon the Wall, was to Belshazzar? Was not London the great Mountain, that her 3enemies feared would be most prejudicial to their pernicious designs? Was not London, that great Rock, against which, 4many have dasht themselves in pieces? Was not London, as Briars and Thorns, as Goads and Gulfs, and two-edged 5Swords, to all her enemies more remote, and nearer home? Had the French invaded us, when London was in flames (as many feared they would) or had such risen up at that time, in the bowels of the Nation, whose very Principles lead them by fire and sword, to make way for their Religion; what doleful dayes had we seen, and to what a low ebb might the Protestant Interest have then be brought?
- 1The Treasury of Ancient and Modern times page 321, 322.
- 2Eccles. 9. 18.
- 3Dan. 5. 5, 6.
- 4Zech. 4. 7.
- 5The French, the Dutch, the Dane, the Spaniard, &c. have at times experienced, what Londons Treasure and force, have been able to do, &c.
